Chapter 12

The four women blinked and looked around the room.

Hades was the first to come out of his shock. "Maria?" His gaze and formed shifted as he looked to the woman next to her. "Marie?"

Ares flickered to Mars. "Emily."

"Esperanza," Hephaestus said looking to the final woman.

The gods not involved (minus Aphrodite- cause she needed to see the drama) decided to take their leave.

The other gods shrunk down.

"How?" Is all Hades managed to say as he looked at Maria.

Maria gave him a soft smile. "I don't know. How did you let me die?"

A gun was raised to point at Mars when he took a step forward. Emily's aim didn't waiver.

"You know that won't kill me," Mars stated.

"Doesn't mean I can't try."

"Where is my son?" Esperanza asked. 

"My children?" Maria asked.

"My son?" Emily asked.

Marie was silent. She knew her daughter had died along with her.

"It is now 2011 and Leo Valdez, Frank Zhang, Nico di Angelo and Hazel Levesque are all alive and well," Aphrodite interrupts. "Though you may not see them now."

"And why not?" Emily demanded.

"You were all dead," Aphrodite replied simply. "And the dead keep coming back for revenge. So you will remain here."

All the gods took a step back as the mothers glared at the goddess. Maria was the first to speak. "What of my daughter?"

"Dead," Aphrodite said bluntly.

Emily Zhang tossed the gun aside as her body began to change into the form of a bear. She ran for the goddess.

Though before she could make impact. She found herself transported to camp of children. All of which moved like robots to make and sharpen weapons. Before the mothers could speak they too fell into step readying things for the next stage.

But they had already done their jobs. They had helped shake Olympus.

~~~~

The next night demigods are at sail headed across world to Delphi.

"I can't believe we have to do this," Will said. "We have to go eliminate a ton of monsters in hope of restoring Delphi but we still need to go half way around the world."

"We got Percy," Rachel said looking to where Percy was leaning over the side of the boat. "Should get there quickly."

"And things calmed down after the war so there shouldn't be too many monsters lurking about," Annabeth added.

Will gave a yawn. "I'm going to bed. I assume Percy is taking the first watch?"

"Percy! You gonna watch?" Rachel called.

"Sure!" He called back.

~~~~

Percy waved bye to the fish he had been talking to. His watch was over time to wake Annabeth.

A set of footsteps caused Percy to freeze. He uncapped his sword and walked quietly around a bend and raised his sword.

"Who's there?" Percy demanded.

"Styx," a voice muttered.

"Show yourself!"

Finally out of the shadow walked Nico di Angelo. "Nico!?" Percy shouted.

"Keep it down!" Nico hissed.

"What's going on?" Annabeth asked as she and Will appeared weapons drawn. A sleepy Rachel yawned behind them.

"What about 'Doctor's Orders' do you not understand!?" Will shouted.

"I'm not the first person to sneak off on a quest," Nico shrugged.

"Well if you want to keep ignoring me walk back through that shadow and go back."

"Nope."

Annabeth facepalmed. "Either was he is here now. So, I volunteer Nico for the next watch."

~~~~

Sorry it's short and awkward!
The next ones shall be better!

-Jaz